1996 — Page 338

Urban Council Proceedings 市政局議事錄 All AI Reviewed

Page 338 of 498

380

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

design, management and maintenance, and that it should formulate relevant policies to improve the utilization of rates paid by taxpayers.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese): Mr Chairman, Hong Kong was considered a 'cultural desert' in the 50's and 60's. Over the past 30 years, the Urban Council has been making persistent effort to provide various cultural venues and facilities. We have assumed the management duties for various cultural activities, established 3 performing companies and allocated huge funds to finance professional bodies such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Ballet, as well as other cultural activities. Today, Hong Kong has become a culturally-prosperous metropolis where the public can enjoy cultural activities at low costs. The Urban Council has made significant contribution in this respect.

During the recently conducted public consultation on the Culture Select Committee Five-Year Plan, we received many valuable comments from the public, a large portion of which was on the allocation of resources. All the groups from the various cultural sectors wished to receive more subsidy from the Urban Council, despite that the Urban Council has only limited resources. I personally think that in allocating resources, it is necessary for us to understand the role of the Urban Council. The Urban Council is delegated the power to provide venues and promote cultural activities under Section 25 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101). During the consultation, we found that the public generally recognise this is our work and have little doubt about it. Since the Urban Council's resources mainly come from people's rates, it is a matter of course that we should organise cultural activities which are popular with the public. Moreover, since all Urban Councillors are elected, we are held accountable to the general public. If the activities organised by us or subsidized by us are not accepted by the mass public, then there will be a need for us to justify ourselves for the phenomenon before the public.

Now that the Council's role is to promote and subsidize programmes which are generally accepted by the mass public, we have to consider whether this role allows us to exclude the 'minority group' or 'creative avant-garde' cultural activities. I think we don't necessarily have to do so. To a certain extent we should also take care of the avant-garde cultural activities or the activities well-received by the 'minority-groups'. However, there should be considerations in priorities. After all, we should not use too much resources on subsidizing the avant-garde activities or activities of the 'minority-groups'. In our society, the number of healthy and good quality cultural and recreational activities is quite limited. Many commercial films and TV programmes are of poor taste, and many activities are unhealthy and would have harmful effect on the development of the young generation. The Urban Council therefore has the responsibility to provide the public with healthy and high quality cultural activities. I think the Urban Council should be clear about this direction without feeling lost.

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Page 338 of 498 380 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL design, management and maintenance, and that it should formulate relevant policies to improve the utilization of rates paid by taxpayers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. MR. CHRISTOPHER CHUNG SHU-KUN (in Cantonese): Mr Chairman, Hong Kong was considered a 'cultural desert' in the 50's and 60's. Over the past 30 years, the Urban Council has been making persistent effort to provide various cultural venues and facilities. We have assumed the management duties for various cultural activities, established 3 performing companies and allocated huge funds to finance professional bodies such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Ballet, as well as other cultural activities. Today, Hong Kong has become a culturally-prosperous metropolis where the public can enjoy cultural activities at low costs. The Urban Council has made significant contribution in this respect. During the recently conducted public consultation on the Culture Select Committee Five-Year Plan, we received many valuable comments from the public, a large portion of which was on the allocation of resources. All the groups from the various cultural sectors wished to receive more subsidy from the Urban Council, despite that the Urban Council has only limited resources. I personally think that in allocating resources, it is necessary for us to understand the role of the Urban Council. The Urban Council is delegated the power to provide venues and promote cultural activities under Section 25 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101). During the consultation, we found that the public generally recognise this is our work and have little doubt about it. Since the Urban Council's resources mainly come from people's rates, it is a matter of course that we should organise cultural activities which are popular with the public. Moreover, since all Urban Councillors are elected, we are held accountable to the general public. If the activities organised by us or subsidized by us are not accepted by the mass public, then there will be a need for us to justify ourselves for the phenomenon before the public. Now that the Council's role is to promote and subsidize programmes which are generally accepted by the mass public, we have to consider whether this role allows us to exclude the 'minority group' or 'creative avant-garde' cultural activities. I think we don't necessarily have to do so. To a certain extent we should also take care of the avant-garde cultural activities or the activities well-received by the 'minority-groups'. However, there should be considerations in priorities. After all, we should not use too much resources on subsidizing the avant-garde activities or activities of the 'minority-groups'. In our society, the number of healthy and good quality cultural and recreational activities is quite limited. Many commercial films and TV programmes are of poor taste, and many activities are unhealthy and would have harmful effect on the development of the young generation. The Urban Council therefore has the responsibility to provide the public with healthy and high quality cultural activities. I think the Urban Council should be clear about this direction without feeling lost. 98 Page 338 of 498

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Page 338 of 498 380 HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL design, management and maintenance, and that it should formulate relevant policies to improve the utilization of rates paid by taxpayers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. MR. CHRISTOPHER Chung Shu-KUN (in Cantonese):-Mr Chairman, Hong Kong was considered a cultural desert' in the 50's and 60's. Over the past 30 years, the Urban Council has been making persistent effort to provide various cultural venues and facilities. We have assumed the management duties for various cultural activities, established 3 performing companies and allocated huge funds to finance professional bodics such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Ballet, as well as other cultural activities. Today, Hong Kong has become a culturally-prosperous metropolis where the public can enjoy cultural activities at low costs. The Urban Council has made significant contribution in this respect. During the recently conducted public consultation on the Culture Select Committee Five-Year Plan, we received many valuable comments from the public, a large portion of which was on the allocation of resources. All the groups from the various cultural sectors wished to receive more subsidy from the Urban Council, despite that the Urban Council has only limited resources. I personally think that in allocating resources, it is necessary for us to understand the role of the Urban Council. The Urban Council is delegated the power to provide venues and promote cultural activities under Section 25 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101). During the consultation, we found that the public generally recognise this is our work and have little doubt about it. Since the Urban Council's resources mainly come from people's rates, it is a matter of course that we should organise cultural activities which are popular with the public. Moreover, since all Urban Councillors are elected, we are held accountable to the general public. If the activities organised by us or subsidized by us are not accepted by the mass public, then there will be a need for us 10 justify ourselves for the phenomenon before the public. Now that the Council's role is to promote and subsidize programmes which are generally accepted by the mass public, we have to consider whether this role allows us to exclude the 'minority group' or 'creative avant-garde' cultural activities. I think we don't necessarily have to do so. To a certain extent we should also take care of the avant-garde cultural activities or the activities well- received by the 'minority-groups'. However, there should be in considerations in priorities. After all, we should not use too much resources on subsidizing the avant-garde activities or activities of the 'minority-groups'. In our society, the number of healthy and good quality cultural and recreational activities is quite limited. Many commercial films and TV programines are of poor laste, and many activities are unhealthy and would have harmful effect on the development of the young generation. The Urban Council therefore has the responsibility to provide the public with healthy and high quality cultural activities. I think the Urban Council should be clear about this direction without feeling lost. 98 Page 338 of 498

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Page 338 of 498

380

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

design, management and maintenance, and that it should formulate relevant policies to improve the utilization of rates paid by taxpayers.

Thank

you, Mr. Chairman.

MR. CHRISTOPHER Chung Shu-KUN (in Cantonese):-Mr Chairman, Hong Kong was considered a cultural desert' in the 50's and 60's. Over the past 30 years, the Urban Council has been making persistent effort to provide various cultural venues and facilities. We have assumed the management duties for various cultural activities, established 3 performing companies and allocated huge funds to finance professional bodics such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Ballet, as well as other cultural activities. Today, Hong Kong has become a culturally-prosperous metropolis where the public can enjoy cultural activities at low costs. The Urban Council has made significant contribution in this respect.

During the recently conducted public consultation on the Culture Select Committee Five-Year Plan, we received many valuable comments from the public, a large portion of which was on the allocation of resources. All the groups from the various cultural sectors wished to receive more subsidy from the Urban Council, despite that the Urban Council has only limited resources. I personally think that in allocating resources, it is necessary for us to understand the role of the Urban Council. The Urban Council is delegated the power to provide venues and promote cultural activities under Section 25 of the Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101). During the consultation, we found that the public generally recognise this is our work and have little doubt about it. Since the Urban Council's resources mainly come from people's rates, it is a matter of course that we should organise cultural activities which are popular with the public. Moreover, since all Urban Councillors are elected, we are held accountable to the general public. If the activities organised by us or subsidized by us are not accepted by the mass public, then there will be a need for us 10 justify ourselves for the phenomenon before the public.

Now that the Council's role is to promote and subsidize programmes which are generally accepted by the mass public, we have to consider whether this role allows us to exclude the 'minority group' or 'creative avant-garde' cultural activities. I think we don't necessarily have to do so. To a certain extent we should also take care of the avant-garde cultural activities or the activities well- received by the 'minority-groups'. However, there should be in considerations in priorities. After all, we should not use too much resources on subsidizing the avant-garde activities or activities of the 'minority-groups'. In our society, the number of healthy and good quality cultural and recreational activities is quite limited. Many commercial films and TV programines are of poor laste, and many activities are unhealthy and would have harmful effect on the development of the young generation. The Urban Council therefore has the responsibility to provide the public with healthy and high quality cultural activities. I think the Urban Council should be clear about this direction without feeling lost.

1996 — Page 338

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